Excavating-machine.



D. P. HOGAN.

BXGAVATING MAGHINE.

Ammonia! FILED nov. as. 1910 Patented Sept. 19,1911

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"2 f (jawn/Zr D. F. HOGAN. EXGAVATING MAGHINE. AYPLIUATION FILED Nov. 2s, 1910.

Patnted Sept. 19, 1911.

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D. P. HOGAN;

` EXGAVATING MACHINE.

APPLIoA'rmn Hum nomas, 1910.

1,003,458. Patent-.ed sept. 19,1911.

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D. F. HOGAN. EXGAVATING MACHINE.

APPLIUATION MLB Novas, 1910.

1.003,458, Patented sept. 19,1911.

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D. F. HOGAN. EXUAVATING MACHINE. APPLIoATlon num Nov` sa. 1910.

Patented Sept. 19, 1911.

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-is a detail in vertical section taken approxifing one of the long toothed slats of the elc- 12 and rear Wheels 3. The front wheels 2 are UNITED STATES OFFICE.

DENIS l?. "HOGAN, OF ST. PAULKMINNESOTA.

EXCAVATING-MACHINE.

Specification oi' Letters Patent.

Application lcr November 28, 1910. Serie] No. 594,424.

To all whom itv may concer/i:

Be it known that l, Denis F. HOGAN, a citizen of the United Sinti.. residing at St. Paul, in tlie'connty ot' itam: y and Slate of Minnesota, have invented vcertain new'nnd useful improvements 4in Excavating-'Macliincs; sind l' do hereby declare the following `to be a full, clear, end exact description of the invention., such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertnins to nrko and. nsethe suine.

My invention has for its object to provide in improved excavating und loading uur chine adapted for general `use but especially adapted for use in excavating and loading earth conteinin f rock and minerals which cannot be rendi y handled by thc ordinary exceveting devices. The machine nuiy be used in the digging of trenches, but is par ticulnrly designed for tearing down embanknlents and elevating the seine to be loaded on cars, wagons or the like.

The invention, in. its preferred form, is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters indicate like parte throu hout the several views.

Refining to the drawings, Figure 1 is a View in side elevation, with some parts broken away, showing the improved nmchine; Fig. t2 is n. plan View of the machine, with some parts broken away; Fig. 3 is a View in front elevation, with some parts broken away, showing the supporting traine and driving connections of a socalled e1nbankment rake; Fig. et is a transverse' section taken on the line a of'Fig. 1; Figu mately on the line ac m5 of Fig. 2; 6 is a detail in vertical section, showing one of the angle. iron slatsof the elevating belt; Fig. 7 is a front elevation of the parts shown in Fife() and showing also cam devices sectioned on the line mi 'mf of Fig. 5; Fig.. 8 is a plan View with parts broken away, showvating belt; Fig. 9 is a section on the line e of Fig. 8; Fig. 10 is e plan view showing one of the short toothed slats of the elevating belt; and Fig. 11 is e section on the line w of Figli).

The framework of theexcavatingrma chine is indicated as an entirety by the numeral 1 and it is mounted on front Wheels secured on an axle 4 journaledinbearing brackets 5 rigidly scoured. to the base of the frame l. The rear wheels 3 are the steering; wheels of the machine, which may be arranged and operated in any suitablfrway but which, :is shown, are looscl y joulnalcd on un axle 6 carried by a` center bearing 7 that is centrally pivotcd lo a bolster 8 rigidly se* cured 4to the base of the frame '1.

For elevating the rock, mineral or earth, l employ an endless belt or conveyor which, in itself, involves novel feature of construction and which, as preferably constructed, incltules n pair of heavy laterally spaced sprocket chains 9 and closely positioned transversely extended angle iron or .steel slats 1). The ends of these angle slats 10 nre riveted or otherwise rigidly secured to projectingr lugs 11 formed on the chain links, and the' seid chains at. their joints are provided with small. anti-friction wheels or rollers 12.

The chains 9 run over lower sprockets 13 and upper sprockets 14. The lower sprockets 13 are secured to a transverse sprocket shaft 15 which, as shown, is journeled in boxes 1G adjustably mounted in bearing heads 17 rigidly secured to thev lower end of parallel upper and lower angle iron guide rails 18 und 19, over the fianges of which the said chains :irc arranged to run with their wlieels v12, engaged with the said lianges. 'The` said guide rails 18 and 19 are inclined toward the front of the machine and are rigidly scoured to the upright side portions of the main frame 1.

T he upper sprockets 14 are rigidly secured to n sprocket shaft 20 journaled in suitable bearings Q1 secured on the rear upper portion ofthe frame 1. The conveyer slats 10 are also preferably connected at their central orlions to an endless sprocket chain 22, w ich is adapted to run over sprockets or traction wheels 23 and 24 carried, respectively, by the sprocket shafts 15 and 20. It also is de* sirable to have the intermediate chain 22 run over an inclined central rail 25, which is suitably secured to transverse portions of the main frame 1.

About every sixth conveyor slat 10- is pro-l vided with relatively long outward] projecting laterally spaced teeth 26 pre erably bolted and, hence, detachably secured to the outwardly extended flanges of the said angle slats.' The intermediate, or otherwise stated, all of the other conveyor slats 10 are pro- Patented sept. 19, 1911.`

vided with relatively short teeth 27, preferably bolted and, hence, detachably secured to the outwardly extended flan es thereof. The purpose of these relativey long and short teeth on the conveyer slats will be made clear in the description of the operation.

For some classes of work, and especially for handling gumbo, mud or other sticky materials, slat cleaning devices are provided (see particularly Figs. 5 to 11, inclusive). These slat cleaning devices, as preferably arranged, are in the form of flat bars 28 having studs 2t) that project through pertorations in the bottom flanges of t 1e slats 10. The studs 29 are preferably guided by sleeves 30 secured, at their outer end, by threaded engagement or otherwise, to the bottom flanges of the said slats 10. The sleeves l30 are provided with longitudi ally extended slots 31 (see Fig. 6), and the s uds 29 are provided with diametrieally projecting pins 32 that work in and project through said slots. Coiled springs 33, 'which Surround the sleeves 30, react against the bot tom flanges of the slats 10 and against washers 34 that are pressed against the pins 32. These springs thus normali hold the cleaning .bars Q8 against the 'ottoni flanges of the respective slats 10, so that they are ontl of the way while the slats are picking up the material to be elevated.

Then the slats 10 reach i approximately their uppermost position, the projecting ends of the pins 34 come into engagement with segmental cam plates 35 (see Fivs. 5 and 7), which cam plates, as shown, lave bifurcated hubs 3G rested upon theV up er sprocket shaft 20. Said cam plates are :ilse provided with projecting arms 37 shown as rigidly secured to one of the cross members 1a of the main frame 1, to thereby hold said cam plate fixed against rotation. The upper surfaces of the cam plates 35 are eccentric to the axis of the shaft 20, so that the cleaning bars 28 will be gradually forced outward as they make their rear downward movement and will thus positively force from the slats any material which might otherwise tend to adhere Athereto. Wlien the slats ass the lower rear extremity of the cam p ates- 35, the springs 33 Will force the cleaning plates bac-lr .to their normal positions against the bottom flanges of the slats. For handling drier materials, such as gravel, rock or ore, these cleaning de` vices will not be required and, hence, may bo removed fron' "he slats.

Forbrushinn up gravel, rock and similar .materlal at the recelving end of the endless elevating belt, heavy wire brushes 38 are ada ptedto be applied tocertain of the slats 10 as shown in iig. 5. These brushes should' be bolted or otherwise detachably secured to the slats to which they are applied and,

sides of the said fianza 41.

usually, but not necessarily, they will be applied to slats from which the long' teeth 2G have been removed. These brushes will be found especially serviceable for cleaning up broken rock or similar material from a rook base or other solid bed.

For tearing down einlmnkinents and delivering the gravel, rock or other material to the lower receivingportion of the elevator belt, l provide a so-ealled embankment rake or down drag, which, as preferably constructed, comprises laterally spaced sprocket chains 39, transverse connecting slrfs 40 and a supporting frame 41. The sprocket chains 39 run over lower sprockets 42 and upper sprockets 43. The lower sprockets et? are secnreiil to a lower sprocket; shaft 4l which, as shown, is journaled in bearing sleeves 45 rigidly secured in bear ings 4G bolted or otherwise rigidly secured to the projecting ends of the lower side bars of the frame 1. The lower side portions of the frame 41 are pivoted on the bearing sleeves 45, as best shown in Fig. 3. The upper sprockets 43 are secured to an upper sprocket shaft 47 journaled in bearing boxes 48 that are adjust-ably mounted in the upper side portions of the pivotcd frame 41. The front intermediate portions of the chains 39 are also arranged to run over an idle roller 49 journaled in suitable hearings O'on the The slats 40 are preferably made of angle iron or steel and they are provided, on their outwardly extended flanges, with laterally spaced .teeth 51.

The side portions of the p'ivoted rake frame 41 are pivoted to the front ends of a. pair of links 52, the rear ends of which are pivotally connected to the frame of a small wheel truck 53, the wheels of which are arranged to run between the inwardly extended tlanges of laterally spaced pairs of parallel inclined rails 54 rigidly secured to the sides of the main frame 1. This truck 53 carries a weight, preferably in the form of a tank 55, adapted to be filled to a greater or less extent with Water or other liquid, to thereby vary the downward pressure on the truck and, hence, the forward pressrreon the embanlnnent rake or down drag The truck 53 1s connected to one end of a cable 5G which is passed over a guide sheave 57 ontlie upper portion of the frame 1 (see Fig. 1), andthe lower end of which is attaehed to a windlass shaft, or drum 58 mounted in suitable bearings on the frame 1 and provided with an operating crank 59 and adapted to be held, when desired, by a suitable pawl and ratchet; devia-(i60.`

The machine described is preferably a traction rig and is provided Wlth an explosive engine or other suitable form of motor having connections for driving the traction wheels to propel the vehicle when desired and, also, when desired, to drive the endless elevating belt and en'rbanlrinent rake, either while the machine is standii'lg still or while it is being propelled slowly forward.

The explosive engine, which. is indicated as an entirety by the numeral (i1. is suitably Secured on the bed of the frame 1 and is provided with a long transversely extended eranlr shaft (r2 mounted in Suitable hearings in the engine hase and on the said main frame. At one end, the engine crank shaft G2 is provided 'with a Sprocket G3 and, at its other end, it is provided with a loose Sprocket Gel and with a driving clutch G5, which latter is arranged to rotate with the Said :shaft but is adapted to slide` on the :shaft into and out of engagement with a clutch formed on the hub of the said loose sprocket (i4.

A sprocket chain 6G runs overthe sprocket- (33 of the engine crank shaft and over a larger Sprocket GT Secured to a trai'isverse line shaft (58 mounted in suitable hearings on the base of the niarhine frame 1. On the interxnwiial'e portion of the line eha'lti "i8 is a loose sprocket 69, a loose Spur gear T() and a donhleended rlnteh sleeve 71. The said rlnteh sleeve 71 keyed to rotate with the line shaft (38 hut is adapted to Slide so as to he engaged at will with clutch members formed on the hubs of the sprocket 69 and gear TU. A sprocket. chain 72 runs over the loose sinoeltet (39 and over a larger sprocket Til Secured to the axle 4l' to which the traeq tion wheels 2 are secured; The axle 4 also carries a second large sprocket 74, A sprocket chain 75 runs over this procket 7i and over a smaller Sprocket Tt' secured to a reversing Counterehaft 7i) mounted in suitabll-.liearings in the sides ot the traine l, and provided nith a spur gear lit) that ineihefs` with the spur gear 'TU of the line :shaft (S8. dien the clutch il is engr-aged with the clutch of the sprocket (il), the. niaehine will he driven barkvvard, but when the said eluteh 7l is engaged with the clutch vof the spul' gear 70, the machine will be drivenforward.

To drive the endless elevator or elevating belt, a sprocket chain H1 is run -over the sprocket 'i-l and over a larger Sprocket on a coiuitershatt extending transversely of the machine and journaled in Suitable hearingrav on thtl sides of the frame l in proper position to pass the said .ihat through the spare between the rails IS and lll. Adjaoont' to the sprorket 82, the't'olur ter-.shaft 8?) provided with a. smaller sprocket Sil and, at its other end, it is provided with a :similarsprocketI S5. sprocket rhain 8G runs over the sprocket Sland over a lartzer sprorket 87 secured to one end of the upper sprocket Shaft 20.

The lower Sprocket shaft 44 of the einlvanknient rake is provided at one end with a spur gear 88 that meshes with a Spur gear 89 journaled to a suitable bearingr in the traine l and .having a sprocket O0 sieeured to its hub. A sprocket chain 91 runs; over the sprockets and 90.

Whenever the rlnteh lneniloer (l5 on the engine crank shaft engaged With the Clutch ol' the normali)l loose sprocket G4, the oountershat El?) will be rotated and through the connections deseribed, both the endless elevating belt and the embankment rake will be thrown into action.

Szmintm'y of 0prratz'0n..--'l'he manner in which the traction rig; may 'ne driven Jf'or- Ward and thereby moved from place to plane or advanced for continuous action on an enibanlnnent. and also the `n'iannelr in which. the elevating belt and the enibanknient rake may he thrown into artion 'whenever desired have already heen stated. Then the machine is moved with the reeeiving or lower portion of the elevating belt against the bottom of an embankment and'is driven, the long teeth -lnake the initial eut and loosen up the embankment and the shorter teeth 27 continue or Complete the tearing of the bank at its base and put the earth, rook or other material in condition for easy delivery onto the angle iron slats' of the elevalor. Preferably, the teeth 2G and 27 are staggered transversely of the machine, so that tte teeth of the adjacent Slat do not travel the saine mths. As the projecting llangee of the angle slats l() are moved' upward on the sproekets 13, they| Sorano up the earth7 rook or oi'he i'naterial trom the einbanlnnent and thus the multiplicity ot' trough-like eonipartinents of the elevator are loaded with the material. The loading of the trouglrlike compartments of the elevator or elevating belt is further insured by the action of a so-ealled embankment rake, which rontinually. loosens and relies or scrapes downward the dirt from the embankment and forces the same onto the' upwardly movin g receiving portion ofthe elevator. By adjustments of the truok 53 on the. rails 54, the embankment rake may he Set in any desired position, either inclined backward or forward or in an upright position, and thus it may be set for proper position on any kind m au embankment. Usually, it will be inrlined forward. The pressure under whirh the enilmultuient ral-:e may be set to vwork against the embankment may he varied hv varying' the amount ot' water contained in the tank Thus, when the cable 5G is ,e'ivrn slm-l. the embankment rake willlhc auioumtirailly kunt to its worlt. When, however, it in desired the euilauilnnrnt rake may be pulled rearward or controlled in its torward moveuunt, by manipulation of the rzalnle areolnplished by rotation of the Windlassl crank 5).

The. truck 53, which has both upper and i nation with an inclined elevator, of an embanken-nt rake adjustably mounted in the vicinity of the receiving portion o't" said elevator, a weighted traveling presser` device, independent of said ralte, for holding the same to its work, and means for holding said presser device in ditl'erent set positions.

3. In an excavating machine, the combination with an inclined elevator, of an einbanknlent rake adjustalily mounted in the vicinity of the receiving portion of said elevator, and ar weigh-lcd traveling presser device, independent of said rake, for yieldingly holding the saine. to its work.

In an excavating machine, the combina-r tion with an inclined elevator, of an cmbankment rake -adjustahly mounted in the vicinity of the receiving portion of said elcvator, and a varialolyr weighted traveling presser device, independent of said rake, for yieldingly holding the same toits work. .i

,5. ln an excavating machine, the cmnhination with an elevator and means for driving the same, of an embanlunent rake mounted above the receiving portion of said elevator for adjustnients into dilferent angularposi tions, means for driving said rake, a cross head or traveler mounted to travel on inclined runways, and a 'connection between .said cross head and said embankment rake for adjusting the same.

G. In an eieavating machine, the combination with an elevator, of an endless embanknient alie lmving a supporting frame pivotally niountedabme the receiving portion of said elevator, means for driving said rake, a cross head 4or traveler mounted to run on inclined runways, an adjustable weight carried by sai l cross head, and a. connection between said cross head and the rframe of said rake for imparting .angular adjustments thereto.

7 In an cxeavat ing machine, the combination .with an elevutor'and means for driving the same, of anendl'ess slat and belt em' bankment rake having a supporting frame pivotally mounted above the receiving p0rtion of said elevator, means for driving said rake, a cross head or traveler mounted to run on inclined runways, a liquid containing tank carried by said cross head, and a connection between said cross head and the frame of said rake for adjusting the same.

8. In an excavating machine, an endless inclined elevator belt and means for guiding and drivin the same, the said belt being made upl o endless chains and angle cross slats, thefsaid slats having relatively long and relatively short teeth rejecting from their outwardly extended anges. Y

9. In an excavating machine, an endless inclined elevator belt and means for guiding and driving the same,thc said belt being made up of endless chains and angle cross slats, the outwardly extended flanges of some of the said cross slats having relatively long projecting teeth and the outwardly extended flanges of a larger'number of said slats having relatively short projecting teeth, the said teeth being staggered transversely of the machine. i

10. In an excavating machine, the combination with an endless elevating belt havin angle cross slats, of cleaning devices applied to the said cross hints, and means for pressing said cleaning devices outward to clean the slats when the latter reach predetermined positions.

11. ln an excavating machine, the combination with an endless elevating belt and means for guiding and driving the same, the said belt heilig made up of endless chains and angle cross slats, of slat cleaning bars having studs working through the bottom flanges of said slats, and cam devices operative on the said cleaning devices to force the same outward and clean said slats when the latter reach their discharging ositions.

1Q'. In an excavating machine, t c combination with an endless elevator belt and means for guiding and driving the same i the said belt having angle cross sla-ts with projecting teeth on their outwardly extended angcs, of slet cleaning devices applied to said slats, and means for forcing` said wh'en the latter reach their discharging position. 1

In testimony whercbf I affix my signature ilrprcsence of two witnesses.

DENIS r. neofita.

Witnessesi y n Amon V.,.wA NsoN, HARRY l). KILGoRn,

,cleaning devices outward to clean said slats 

